To Allen Ginsberg

ON THE DEATH OF GINSBERG Rain-damp street outside my window voices punctuate early morning street dogs bark car engines cough start someone’s day lie in half-light thinking of you Allen Ginsberg what demons drove you Naomi there driving you to work in her madness your madness walking Manhattan climbing San Franciscan hills bearded prophet with your schoolgirl crushes on skinny genius song-poet boy disciples hear your teaching head in the vale of your breast sing to guru heart beats fearless harmonium playing your song-chant hurting without tears over boy love-spurning walking death in your ears holding hands with Mr Death always speaking words in your ear Mr Death your final lover faithful polygamous lover Forever everyone’s lover And this morning I see you in Linthorpe damp street prelude of daily madness not your crazy wisdom the madness of not seeing your crazy rant my ramblings these ramblings my heart madness approaching break break break break break into a million pieces prophet man bearded raging at people deaf in Linthorpe blind in Linthorpe not hearing you not ever seeing you there in their midst Its grey its damp outside my window smell of last night’s loving lingers she my crazy lover you’d love her crazy wisdom even if your ***** head makes think you don’t think she’s there Read again your poems again hear your disembodied voice give hope in life in dying teaching always speaking in death life raging forever